Broom-corn harvester.



No. 767,775. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

F. SUTTON. v BROOM CORN HARVESTER.

APPLIUA'IION FILED APR. 18, 1902.

MIM/@WW @VMI-@i5 No. 767,775. PATRNTRD AUG. 16, 1904.

'7 P. SUTTON.

BRooM CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APB.1-B, 1902.

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No. 767,775. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. F. SUTTON.

BROOM CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APB.18, 1902.

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No. 767,775. n PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

Y P. SUTTON.

BROOM CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APB.. 18, 1902. N0 MODEL. 8 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

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PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904.

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BROOM CORN HARVESTER.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 1a. 1902.

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UNITED STATES Patented August 1G, 1904.

FRANK SUTTON, OF MATTOON, ILLINOIS.v

BROONl-CORN HARVESTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 767,775, dated August16, 1904.

Application tiled April 18, 1902.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK SUTTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Mattoon, in the county of Coles and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Broom-Corn Harvesters,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to broom-corn harvesters.

One object of the present invention is the provision, in a broom-cornharvester, of improved and novel means for raising and lowering thesickle and apron,so that the corn can be cut according to theheight ofthe corn as standing andwithout interfering with the operation of themachine.

Another object of the invention is the provision of certain improvementsfor driving the reel and the sickle and aprons employed for conveyingand evening the corn after it has been harvested.

A still further object is to provide a novel and peculiar constructionand arrangement of parts to gage or stop the corn and even it up intocorresponding lengths prior to cutting of the stalks and threshing ofthe corn.

Anotherobject of the invention is the provision of novel mechanism forconveying the stalks to the threshing means and for cutting the stalksthe proper length while in transit.

Having the foregoing and other not specitically mentioned objectsinview, the presentinvention comprises a broom-corn harvester embracingcertain novel mechanisms cordinating and actingin animproved manner, asfull.;7 set forth in the followingspecification andappended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 are perspective viewsof the complete machine; Fig. 4, a top plan view omitting the reel andits mechanism; Figs. 5 and 6, enlarged detail views of the gearing foroperating the conveyerapron, the sickle, and the reel; Fig. 7 a detailshowing the end of the evener-apron and the auxiliary evener feedapronworking therewith; Fig. 8, a detail showing the arrangement of thesprocketchain which operates the feed-chain; Fig. 9, a detail of theclutch mechanism for throwing the sickle in and out ot gear; Fig. 10, a

, wheels 2.

Serial No. 103,574l (No model.)

detail showing the manner of driving the threshing-rollers, and Fig. 11a detail of the feed-chain and pressing-wheels. Fig. 12 is a detail viewshowing the reel-post, the reelslides, and associated parts; Fig. 13, aside elevation looking toward the right-hand side of Fig. 1, and Fig. 14a longitudinal section taken on line 14 14 of Fig. 4.

The framework 1 of the machine may be of suitable construction toaccommodate the various mechanisms which are employed, and it issupported mainly by the broad traction- The front portion of the machineis supported by the small wheels 3, which are offset laterally inrelation to the wheels 2. At one side of the machine are parallel guides4 and 5, disposed in a vertical direction, while 6 is a shaft providedwith acrank7 and ratchet mechanism 8, located adjacent the drivers seat,which is suitably journaled and which is geared to ashaft 6 bybevel-pinions 7 the said shaft 6 having thereon the pinions 9 and 10.

The numerals 11 and 12 designate racks which are adapted to travel upand down in the guides 4 and 5 and which mesh with the pinions 9 and 10.The sickle mechanism and apron for conveying the corn after cutting bythe sickle are supported by the racks 11 and 12.

The frame which carries the sickle mechanism and apron is shown at 18and is suitably braced by the bars 13', while it is guided in its up anddown movements and further braced by the slide 14, which is adapted tomove up and down on the reel-post 15 on the frame 1. The reel 16 fordrawing in the corn to the sickle is carried by a traveler 17, which isconnected to and movable with the slide 14 bythe rods 18, in consequenceof which the reel will always remain in the same position in relation tothe sickle and at the same distance therefrom regardless of the heightto which the frame 13 may be raised or lowered, and it will beunderstood that the raising and lowering of the frame 13 is accomplishedby turning the crank 7, which through the pinions and racks will push upthe frame 13 or lower it, the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism 8 holding itwherever adjusted. A

The sickle 19 is of the usual construction and is reciprocated by apitman 2O on a sprocket IOO 21, which is connected by a chain to asprocket 22. The sprocket 22 is on the inner roller 23, over which thecarrying-apron 24 moves, another roller, 25, being employed at thc outerportion of the frame 13 for the apron 24 to travel over. On the sameshaft with the sprocket 22 is a bevel-pinion 26, which meshes with abevel-gear 27 on the same shaft 37 with a sprocket-wheel 28. A largesprocket-wheel 29 is carried with the traveler 17, which supports thereel, while at the top of the reelpost is a sprocket 30, and in thelower portionof the reel-post is a sprocket 31.

The numeral 32 designates a sprocket-chain which travels over thesprocket 30, sprocket 29, sprocket 28, (on the opposite side, thenceover a small idle sprocket 33, and around the sprocket 31. Thisarrangement of gearing provides for driving` the sickle, the apron 24,and the reel, and it will be observed that as the traveler 17 and theframe 13 are run up and down they will always be in mesh or engagementwith the chain 32 regardless of their height, and hence provision ismade for driving them at all times.

. Disposed in a general direction at right angles to the conveyer-apron24 is an evenerapron 34, which runs over a roller 35 at its outer endand at its inner end over a roller 36,

which is on the same shaft 37 as the sprocketv 64. The evener-apron hasthe slats 38, which are provided with the teeth or fingers 39. Thisevener-apron is adapted to receive the cut corn from the conveyor-apron24 and to deliver it after evening or straightening by reason of theengagement with the teeth 39 under a tapering roller 40, which is gearedto the roller 36 by the intermeshing gears 41. Over the roller 4() andanother similar roller, 40', runs an auxiliary evener feed-apron 40,having the slats 3 8 and teeth 39, as on the evenerapron 34. This apron40 overlaps the evenerapron 34 somewhat and extends beyond the end ofthe latter and is so disposed above and in relation to the apron 34 thatit acts on the corn and assists in spreading and evening the stalks, aswell as feeding them from the evenerapron to the stop-gate 42.

4Located a suitable distance in front of the rollers 36 and 40 is astop-gate 42, consisting of a frame of depending fingers hinged or hungfrom atransverse rod 43. The ends or butts of the stalks project betweenthe fingers of the gate, and the parallelism of the stalks is thuspreserved, while they are stopped, and hence alined up the same lengthin convenient arrangement to be handled, by an operator standing on thefront of the machine after the sto p-gate 42 has been raised to permittheir withdrawal prior to feeding' by hand to the following mechanism.

Disposed in a general transverse direction to the length of theevener-apron and platis endless and provided with teeth or lingers 46and runs over suitable sprockets 47 and 48, the sprocket 48 beinglocated to the left of the stop-gate 42 and the sprocket 47 at theextreme left side of the machine. Located adjacent the feed-chain andthe sprocket 48 is a pair of pressingswheels 49, which press the headsof the stalks into the teeth 46 of the feed-chain as they are first fedthereto by the operator after removal from the stop-gate 42. Afterengagement with the feed-chain the stalks of broom-corn are drawn along'on a platform or table 50 and their butts are all severed the samelength by a rotary knife or cutter 51 on a shaft 52, suitably journaledto the frame 1.

At the rear of. the feed-chain 45 is a boxing 53, in which are suitablyjournaled a pair of threshing-rolls 54, having spikes or teeth anddisposed with their longitudinal axes at an inclination transversely tothe length of 'the cornstalks, and as the cornstalks are drawn along' bythe feed-chain 45 the heads of the stalks pass in between thethreshing-rollers 54, and thesel rollers thresh the heads. Thisthreshing action is facilitated by the angular disposition of thethreshing-rolls without hindering the action of the feed-chain or theprogress of the broom-corn carried thereby. The harvesting action isthen completed, and the stalks threshed and cut can be removed at theside of the machine. The threshing-rolls 54 are intergeared at 55 andoperated by a belt 56 from a small engine 57, supported by the frame 1between the traction-wheels 2.

A large sprocket 58 is secured to the hub of one of the traction-wheelsand connected by sprocket-chain 59 to a sprocket 60, loose on a shaft61. On the outer end of the shaft 61 is a sprocket 62, which isconnected by achain 63 to a sprocket 64 on the same shaft with sprocket31. Provision is thusmade for driving the sickle, the reel, theconveyer-apron, and the evener-apron and roll 40.

On the shaft 52 is a sprocket 65, which is connected by a chain 66 to acounter-shaft 67, which is connected by a chain 68 to asprocket 69 on ashaft 70, extending' lengthwise of the machine. On the shaft 70 is abevel-pinion 7f1, meshing with a bevel-gear 72 on shaft 61. Provision isthus made for driving the rotary knife 51 by the movement of themachine.

The sprocket 47 is on the same shaft with a sprocket 73, over which runsa chain 74, whose lower portion runs over an idler 75, located near thebevel-gear 72, thence over sprocket 76 on shaft 70, thence over anidler-- sprocket 77 and the upper portion of the chain 7 4, then passesunder and is engaged by a sprocket 78, secured to and driven bycounter-shaft 67. Slidable on a spline 61 on shaft 61 is a'clutch member80, adapted to engage a clutch member 8l on gear 60. The clutch form 44,on which the stalks are dra-wn by the member 8() is shifted by a lever 79 through the medium of a clutch-lever 82, pivoted 'on operator, is afeed-chain 45. This feed-chain IOO IIO

ISO

standard 83. Provision is thus made for clutching and unclutching thesprocket to shaft 6l to throw the cutter or sickle in or out ofoperation, as desired.

In operation the machine is driven along, and while in movement thesickle mechanism can be raised or lowered and locked according' todifferences in the height of the corn to be harvested. The sickle seversthe tops or upper parts of the standing broom-corn, and the reel gathersthe corn into the sickle and afterward throws it-onto the conveyer-apron24, which carries it to the evener-apron 34. The fingers 39 of the slack38 catch and hold the stalks in substantial parallelism, and the stalksthen pass under the roller 40, which spreads and further arranges them,after which they are discharged in between the lingers of the gate 42 tobe afterward brought forward onto the platform 44 by the pressure offeeding or vby raising of the stop-gate by hand. The operator then feedsthe stalks to the feed-chain 45, and the stalks are pressed intoengagement with the teeth of the feedchain by the wheels 49. The stalkspass along' on the platform or table 50, and the heads are acted onwhile in transit by the threshingrolls, and the butts are cut evenly bythe rotary knife 51. The stalks after threshing are then removed fromthe machine.

I am aware that the essential principles of my invention could becarried out by the use of modified or different forms of constructionthan shown and described in this application, and I do not, therefore,limit myself to the present disclosures, but consider that I am entitledto all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with the main frame, of anupright reelpost, a traveler adapted to move up and down on saidreel-post, a reel carried by the traveler, harvesting or cuttingmechanism, a slide movable on the reel-post and supporting the travelerfrom the harvesting or cutting mechanism, means for raising and loweringtheharvesting or cutting mechanism and the reeltraveler together todierent heights, and means for operating the reel and harvesting orcutting mechanism.

2. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with harvesting or cuttingmechanism, of rollers, a conveyer-apron operating over said rollers andadapted to receive the corn after cutting', a sprocket-wheel foroperating one of the rollers, asprocket-wheel having a connection withthe cutting mechanism, a chain connecting said sprocket-wheels,bevel-gearing operating the sprocket-wheel first named, a sprocket-wheelconnected to said bevel-gearing, relatively stationary sprocket-wheels,an endless sprocketchain running over said sprocket-wheels and thesprocket-wheelof the bevel-gearing, a reel, a sprocket-wheel foroperating the reel which has the chain running thereover, and means foroperating the endless sprocket-chain whereby the cutting mechanism, reeland conveyer-apron are operated simultaneously.

3. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with cutting or harvestingmechanism, of an apron arranged relatively to the cutting mechanism toreceive the corn transversely of said apron after cutting, and a secondapron running substantially at right ang'les to the conveyer-apron andhaving means thereon adapted to maintain the corn in substantialparallelism longitudinally of said second apron as placed thereon by theconveyer-apron.

4. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with cutting or harvestingmechanism, of an apron arranged relatively to the cutting mechanism toreceive the corn transversely of said apron after cutting. and a secondapron running substantially at right angles to the conveyer-apron andprovided with transverse slats having separated teeth which are adaptedto maintain the corn in substantial parallelism longitudinally of saidsecond apron as placed thereon by the conveyer-apron. y

5. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with cutting orharvesting'mechanism, of an apron having means adapted to maintain thecorn in substantial parallelism longitudinally of the apron, means fordelivering the corn from the cutting mechanism to said apronlongitudinally of said apron, and means located above the apron adaptedto assist in maintaining the corn in substantial parallelismlongitudinally of said apron. y

6. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with cutting or harvestingmechanism, of a main apron having means adapted to main- 'tain the cornin substantial parallelism longitudinally of the apron, means fordelivering the corn from the cutting mechanism to said apronlongitudinally of said apron, and a supplemental apron located above themain apron and running in the same direction as said main apron, saidsupplemental apron coperating with the main apron to assist inmaintaining the corn in substantial parallelism on the main apronlongitudinally thereof.

7. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with an apron, and meanson said apron for maintaining the corn thereon in substantialparallelism extending longitudinally of the apron, of a stop deviceindependent of the apron, and means for feeding the corn from the apronto the stop device, said stop device arresting the corn. A

8. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with a main apron havingmeans thereon adapted to maintain the corn in substantial parallelismlongitudinally of the apron as placed on the apron, of asupplementalapron extending over the main apron and running IOO IIO

in the same direction as the main apron and extending beyond thedelivery end of said apron, and a stop device adapted to arrest the corndischarged from the apron, said supplemental apron being adapted todeliver the corn to the stop device.

` 9. In abroom-corn harvester, the combination with cutting orharvesting mechanism,

of an apron having devices thereon for maintaining the corn insubstantial parallelism lengthwise of said apron, means for deliveringthe corn from the cutting mechanism to said apron longitudinally of saidapron, and a stop device for engaging the butts of the corr. to arrestthe discharge of the corn from the apron.

10. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with an apron havingdevices thereon for maintaining' the corn in substantial parallelismlengthwise of said apron, of harvesting or cutting mechanism, means fordelivering the corn from the harvesting or cuttingl mechanism to saidapron longitudinally or' said apron, and a stop device to engage thebutts of the corn as the corn 'discharges from the apron, said stopdevice having means to preserve the substantial parallelism of the cornafter discharge from the apron.

11. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with cutting orharvesting mechanism, of an apron having devices thereon for maintainingthe corn in substantial parallelism lengthwise of said apron, means fordelivering' the corn from the cutting mechanism to said apronlongitudinally of said apron, and a stop'device having lingers andadapted to arrest the discharge of the corn from the apron, said iingerspermitting the butts of the corn to project therebetween, therebypreserving the substantial parallelism of the corn.

12. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with harvesting orcutting mechanism, of an apron having devices thereon for maintainingthe corn in substantial parallelism lengthwise of saidV apron, means fordelivering the corn from the cutting mechanism to saidapronlongitudinally of said apron, and a swinging gate adapted to arrest thedischarge or' the corn from the apron by engagement with the butts ofthe corn.

13. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with harvesting orcutting mechanism, of an apron having' devices thereon for maintainingthe corn in substantial parallelism lengthwise of said apron, means fordelivering the corn from the cutting mechanism tosaid apronlongitudinally of said apron, a lroller located adjacent the apron andadapted to assist in maintaining the :corn onfthe apron by bearing onthe corn, and a stop device adapted to arrest the discharge of the cornfrom the apron and roller.

14. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with harvesting orcutting mechanism, of an apron having devices thereon for maintainingthe corn in substantial parallelism lengthwise of said apron, means fordelivering the corn from the cutting mechanism'to said apronlongitudinally or' said apron, a roller disposed adjacent the dischargeportion of the apron and adapted to assist in maintaining the corn onthe apron by bearing on Athe corn,I and a stop device located beyond theroller and adapted to arrest the discharge of the corn from the apronand roller.

15. In a broom-corn harvester, the combination with threshing mechanism,of a feed device for conducting the heads of the corn through thethreshing mechanism, a table or platform on which the butts of the corntravel while going through the threshing mechanism, and means forsevering the butts while passing over the table and while the heads arebeing threshed.

In testimony 'whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK SUTTON.

Witnesses:

FRANK P. CoPPAeE, BEN. C. CHAPMAN.

